Internal-combustion engine and the like.



E. L. & E. D. COURTWRIGHT. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE'AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 20, 1911.

1,039,492. Patented Sept. 24, 1912:

Sum/Mow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMEB L. COUBTWRIGHT AND EDGAR D. COUBTWIRIGHT, 0E TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

Application filed December 20, 1911. Serial No. 666,881.

coma, in the county of Pierce and 'Stateof" Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal Combustion Engines and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention has particular reference to mechanism for connecting the pistons of an engine or the like with the crank shaft and has for a primary object to provide a novel construction of this character which is productive of a more effective movement of the pistons, and further, overcomes dead centerin of the connected crank.

Ot er objects will be set forth as our description progresses, and those features of construction, arrangements and combinations of parts on which we desire protection, succinctly defined in our annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals of reference indicate i like parts throughout the several views: Figure 1 is a transverse section of an engine. equipped with motion converting mechanism constructed in accordance with our invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 are diagrammatical views thereof.

In accordance with our invention, we pro-' vide a drivin connection between pistons, of cylinders in duplex arrangement, and the crank, through the medium of which we obtaincomparatively long quick strokes of the pistons with a comparatively slow motion during the change of stroke.

Referring to thedrawing by numerals of reference, 3, 3 indicate the pistons one of which has a lead over the other, by which arrangement one will enter on its slow motion or change of stroke practically simultaneously with the entering of the other on its stroke, thereby overcoming undue vibrations to the apparatus.

Reference numerals 1 and 2 indicate the cylinders, as for example, of an engine of the explosive type, and 4 the crank of the drive shaft.

Reference numeral 5 indicates a driving connection pivotally connected at its opposite end portions with the crank 4 and pisston-stems 3 respectively. Intermediate the pivotal points of stems 3, connection 5 is pivoted, as at 6,'to a'fulcrum member 7, the latter conveniently comprising an oscillatory arm pivotally supported, as at 8, on the crank case, as shown. In thus mounting the driving cpnnection .5 for bodily movement inan 'arcuate' path, as contradistinguished from *a-straight path, the change of stroke of a piston occurssooncr-in the, revolution of' the crank shaft, as dia rammatically illustrated in Fig. 2, in whic view piston 3'is about to start on its inward stroke, at which time it will swing driving connection 5 on pivot 6 to throw crank 4. over center, as indicated in Fig. 3, pivot 6 moving upwardly slightly to permit of this, as is apparent.

Our invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with explosive engines, wherein a plural throw crank shaft is employed, a driving connection 5 being connected with each crank and the related pair of pistons, as is well understood. We do not however, wish to be understood as limiting our invention to this particular application.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is

1. The combination of a pair of cylinders, reciprocatory pistons in said cylinders, and a shaft provided with acrank, of a driving connection connected with the stems of said pistons and said crank, and a fulcrum'memher having said driving connection pivoted thereto intermediate the points of engagement of said piston-stems, said member being supported for movement bodily in an arcuate path.

2. The combination of a pair of cylinders, reciprocatory pistons in said cylinders one of which pistons has a lead over the other, and a shaft provided with a crank, of a driving connection pivotally connected at one end portion to the crank of said shaft, a fulcrum member pivotally connected with theother end portion of said driving connection, said pistons having their stems pivoted to said connection on opposite sides of its point of connection with said fulcrum memher, and means supporting said fulcrum merliber for bodily'movement in an arcuate at p 3. The combination of a pair of cylinders, reciprocatory pistons in said cylinders one of which pistons has a lead over the other, and a shaft provided with a crank, of a driving connection pivotally connected at one end portion to the crank or said shaft, during its bodily movement with said crank a fulcrum member ivotally connected with shaft.

the other end portion of said driving con- In testimony whereof we aflix our signanection, said pistons having their stems pivtures in presence of two witnesses.

6 oted' to said connection on opposite si es of its point of connection with said'fulcrum member, and a fulcrum member comprising an arm pivoted to said driving connection .Witnesses:

and to a relatively fixed part for directing GEORGE H. BERRY, 10 said connection through an arcuate path L. L. THORNELY. 

